Brush and method of holding bristles in same



Sept. 27, 1932. CONNOR 1,879,103

. BRUSH AND METHOD OF HOLDING BRISTLES IN SAME Filed March 23, 193;

Patented Sept. 27, 1932 UNITED STATES.

JAMES 1*. common, or CLEVELAND, oHio BRUSH AND METHOD or noLnmG nnrsrnns11v SAME ien filed March as, 1931. Serial 110. 524,580. 11

This invention relates to brushes andis particularly concerned with amethod of bristle setting by means of which the tufts of bristle arefirmly secured to the brush blank or back. As applied to wooden backbrushes, the practice has been to insert staples that can be driven intothe wood across the folded tuft. Such method however, is impractical formetallic brushes and so the practice has arisen of drilling or castingthe tuft socket entirely through the back, and then passing a wirethrough the loop end of the tuft and fastening it to the back of thebrush. This procedure however, is objectionable for it is unsightly andis difficult to keep clean. Furthermore, it is expensive, for each tuftmust be inserted manually in place, while the wire must be securelyanchored at the end of each drawing operation. Again, the bristles arenot held with sufficient degree of tightness.

The object of my invention therefore, is to produce a cheap, desirableand effective method of fastening bristles in place without thenecessity for drilling or casting holes entirely through the back. Thus,the back may present a smooth unbroken appearance.

Referring now to the drawing, Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a brushembodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the first stepin forming the tuft; Fig. 3 is a corresponding view showing the secondstep in the formation of the tuft; Fig. 3A is a view through the brushshowing the method of locking the tuft in place; Fig. 4 is a sectiontaken through a brush, showing a modified form of securing means; Fig. 5is a section taken on the line 5-5 in Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a similar viewtaken on the line 6-6 inFig. l; Fig. 7 is a section through a brushembodying still another modified form of retainer; Figs. 8 and 9 arediagrammatic views indicating the steps used for locking the retainer inFig. 7 in place, and Fig. 10 shows a modification of the bent retainer.

The method illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3A inclusive embodies the insertionof a tuft within the socket, and the simultaneous anchoring of the tuftby forcing some of the metal adjacent the socket inwardly while the tuftis being inserted. If desired, a retainer may be used in conjunctionwith the metal and to this end, the bristle back is indicated at 10, thesocket at 11-, the tuft at 12 and the re 'tainer at 13. In'Fig. Qtheretainer is shown as being positioned across the midportion of the tuft,while the bristles lie in extended position across the socket, while' adiagrammatic representation of a punch is shown at 14 directly above theretainer. In Fig. 3, the punch has forced the retainer into the socket,and at the same time has folded'the bristles during their movement intothe socket.

To lock the tuft in place, I may form shoulders 15 by scoring the wallsof the socket while the punch is forcingthe tuft intoplace.

' Suitable recessed portions 16 adjacent the corners of the punchprovide sufi'icient space for the scored metal to formthedesiredshoulders. In Fig. 4, I have showna modified form of retainer whereinthe locking shoulders l...

20 are formed by peaning over the upper walls of the socket, rather thanby a scoring action of the punch. Such peaned shoulders may be formed bythe same tool which drives the retainer into the socket, so that theformation and locking of thetufts constitutes a simultaneous action.

Both of the retaining methods heretofore described show the retainer, ascomprising a short length of wire which is substantially 1 equal inlength, to the diameter of the socket at the final imbedded position. InFigs. 7, 8 and 9, however, I have shown a modification wherein theretainer is in the form of a short strip of bent wire with pointed ends26.

The bent strip is laid across the bristles, as is shown in Fig. 8. andis forced into the socket by the punch 14 without scoring or peaning thewalls to provide retaining shoulders. The width of the punch isapproximately 1 equal to the diameter of the socket so that thecompressive action exerted thereby, straightens the retainer and forcesthe pointed ends into the Wall of the socket. I have found that wherethe socket i die cast, the metal is sufficiently soft to permit the endsof the retainer tobe forced a slight distance into the wall, as is shownin Fig. 7

In the modification of Fig. 10, the retainer is held against the wallsof the socket merely by frictional contact therewith. This is obtainedby utilizing a bent strip that when traightened is forced outwardly intoengagement with the wall without necessarily being imbedded therein.

An important advantage of my invention is the fact that brush backs maybe made of metal, and that the bristles may held securely in placewithout necessitating the use of sockets which extend entirely throughthe back. Furthermore, the exposed-Wireon the back of the brush maybeentirely eliminated, and yet the tufts may be eflectively locked inplace by automatic machinery. wherefore considerable savings may beeffected in the manufacture of the brush.

I therefore claim:

a a 1. In a brush, the combination with a back member having a sockettherein, said socket opening outwardly at one side of the brush andextending only partially therethrough, a bristle tuft folded within thesocket and a retainer comprising a short length of wire extending acrossthe fold, the back member being deformed within the socket to provideshoulders that engage the wire only and hold it in place.

2. In a brush, the combination with a brush back having a sockettherein, afolded tuft within the socket, a retainer extending across thefolded portion of the tuft and in close fitting engagement at its endswith the walls of the socket, and the wall of the socket being swagedonly above the ends of the retainer and within the fold of the bristles,the swaged portion operating to lock the retainer without binding theouter portion of the tuft.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto aflix my signature.

JAMES F. CONNOR.v

